Tacoma Area Construction

SB I-5 ramp to SR 7 closed for construction

An around the clock closure of the southbound I-5 ramp to SR 7 in Tacoma is now in place through the fall of 2017. During the closure, contractor crews will install drainage and electrical systems, build retention ponds and rebuild the ramp to align with the changing contour of I-5. Drivers who use the SR 7 ramp will be detoured via northbound I-705, the SR 509 interchange and southbound I-705.

I-5 lanes in Tacoma move into new phase of construction Southbound I-5 in Tacoma has been reconfigured into two separate roadways. WSDOT created a video that gives drivers an idea of what to expect so you can plan ahead and not miss your exit.

The temporary alignment will allow crews to replace the original concrete of I-5 and create a work zone to advance work on the new McKinley Street overpass. Detours will be provided for all ramp closures. WSDOT advises motorists to pay extra heed to the new lane alignments.

Access to westbound SR 16Southbound I-5 drivers heading to SR 16 need to stay in the right lane past the Puyallup River Bridge to access the collector/distributor (C/D) lane that will take them to SR 16. If you miss the C/D, continue to 56th Street and turn back on northbound I-5 to exit #132.

Additional ramp and lane closures

Friday, Sept. 22

Pacific Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday.

Southbound I-5 exit to I-705/SR 7 and 26th Street will close from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday.

SR 167 on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday.

Southbound I-5 collector/distributor will be reduced to a single lane from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday.

38th Street on-ramp to westbound SR 16/northbound I-5 and I-705 will close from 11:59 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday, Sept. 23

Northbound SR 7 ramp to northbound I-5 and the I-705 ramp to northbound I-5 will close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday.

Monday, Sept. 25• Southbound I-5 collector/distributor lanes will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday. Drivers headed to westbound SR 16 or the Tacoma city center will be detoured to southbound I-5 and the 56th Street interchange to northbound I-5 and exit #132. • Portland Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday. • Southbound I-5 exit to I-705/SR 7 and 26th Street will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday. • Southbound I-705 on-ramp to northbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday. • East 28th Street on-ramp to northbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday. • 38th Street on-ramp to westbound SR 16/northbound I-5 and I-705 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Tuesday, Sept. 26 • Southbound I-5 collector/distributor lanes will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday. Drivers headed to westbound SR 16 or the Tacoma city center will be detoured to southbound I-5 and the 56th Street interchange to northbound I-5 and exit #132. • Portland Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday. • Southbound I-5 exit to I-705/SR 7 and 26th Street will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday. • Southbound I-705 on-ramp to northbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday. • 38th Street on-ramp to westbound SR 16/northbound I-5 and I-705 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Wednesday, Sept. 27• Southbound I-5 collector/distributor lanes will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday. Drivers headed to westbound SR 16 or the Tacoma city center will be detoured to southbound I-5 and the 56th Street interchange to northbound I-5 and exit #132. • Portland Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday. • Southbound I-5 exit to I-705/SR 7 and 26th Street will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday. • Southbound I-705 on-ramp to northbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday. • Southbound SR 167 on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday. • 38th Street on-ramp to westbound SR 16/northbound I-5 and I-705 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday.

Thursday, Sept. 28• Southbound I-5 collector/distributor lanes will close from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday. Drivers headed to westbound SR 16 or the Tacoma city center will be detoured to southbound I-5 and the 56th Street interchange to northbound I-5 and exit #132. • Portland Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday. • Southbound I-5 exit to I-705/SR 7 and 26th Street will close from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday. • Southbound SR 167 on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday. • 38th Street on-ramp to westbound SR 16/northbound I-5 and I-705 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday.

Friday, Sept. 29 • Southbound I-5 collector/distributor lanes will close from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday. Drivers headed to westbound SR 16 or the Tacoma city center will be detoured to southbound I-5 and the 56th Street interchange to northbound I-5 and exit #132. • Portland Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday. • Southbound I-5 exit to I-705/SR 7 and 26th Street will close from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday. • 38th Street on-ramp to westbound SR 16/northbound I-5 and I-705 will close from 11:59 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday.

During the closures, signed detours will be in place.

Common Questions:

If I take the C/D instead of the through- lanes, can I still reach southbound I-5?

Answer: Drivers entering southbound I-5 from Portland Avenue will be directed onto the C/D and can rejoin southbound I-5 at S. 38th Street.

20th Street East in Fife reopened Following an extended closure, 20th Street East has reopened to traffic. Drivers can expect occasional nighttime closures and daytime single-lane closures controlled by flaggers between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

This will give crews continued access to work on a new I-5 bridge that spans the Puyallup River and 20th Street East. Final paving of 20th Street East is scheduled to occur in August.

NB SR 7 ramp to SB I-5 closed for construction

The northbound SR 7 ramp to southbound I-5 is expected to reopen in late 2017. The ramp remains closed for safety purposes during construction.

Contractor crews building HOV connections between I-5 and SR 16 have closed the northbound I-5 city center exit #133 through mid-November 2017. Northbound I-5 drivers headed to I-705 and SR 7 can use exit #132, which is the SR 16 and 38th Street exit and is located just before #133. You can watch a video of the detour on WSDOT's YouTube channel.

McKinley Way overpass being rebuilt

East McKinley Way at I-5 in Tacoma closed to all traffic so crews can rebuild the overpass to accommodate a wider I-5. The roadway isn't expected to reopen to traffic until late winter 2018. Until the overpass is rebuilt, drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians will detour to the rebuilt Pacific Avenue overpass. Rebuilding both overpasses is part of the effort to expand I-5 HOV lanes into Tacoma.

Slow down and Give ‘em a Brake Drivers are advised to give themselves extra travel time and become familiar with current ramp closures and detour routes on Interstate 5 in Tacoma before heading out the door. If you're driving at night, please slow down in work zones and avoid distracted driving. Help keep our work crews safe. Slow down, pay attention, and stay calm. Work zones aren't there to personally inconvenience you. They're there to improve the roads for everyone. It’s a drivers’ own interest to be safe in work zones. Statewide, more than 96 percent of people injured in work zones are drivers, their passengers or passing pedestrians.